United Kingdom, May 13 -- Hilary Duff felt flattered to be invited to pose for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

The 38-year-old pop star admitted that posing for the well-known magazine was initially "scary" - but Hilary ultimately relished the opportunity, describing it as an "incredibly empowering" experience.

Hilary told Sports Illustrated: "I'm a mom of four, and I'm not a spring chicken. So, of course, it was flattering.

"I don't typically frolic around in a bathing suit, so it was a little scary, but it was also incredibly empowering. It was a mostly female crew on set, and it really felt like a celebration of women."

Hilary also revealed that she's learned to appreciate her own body over time.

The pop star said: "I can l...